How to Help Approve 74 to Keep Marriage for Gays and Lesbians

In less than a month Washington voters will receive their ballots for the 2012 election. As you may remember, Washington State’s legislature passed a bill that gave gays and lesbians the right to marry in this state. The bill also explicitly protects churches. They will not have to perform marriage ceremonies unless they want to. After the legislature passed the bill, Governor Gregoire signed it.

Voting to approve Referendum 74 is certainly the most important thing you can do to support your gay and lesbian neighbors, friends, family, and co-workers. But there are other ways you can show your support.

I spoke to William Pontius, Washington United’s LGBT Field Organizer who had some suggestions:

Volunteer to phone bank:Washington United for Marriage, the campaign to Approve 74, needs volunteers every night throughout the state to call voters to remind them why it is important to approve Referendum 74. It will also be very important for volunteers to call voters to remind them to return their ballots. This volunteer position could be the most important thing you do to help other than voting to Approve 74 to keep marriage in Washington State for gays and lesbians.

Volunteer to raise money:Those who would like to take away the rights of gays and lesbians to marry recently booked $1.5 million of advertising on television networks across the state. During similar campaigns around the country, these ads broadcasted lies and misleading information about what marriage laws mean. It is vitally important that Washington United for Marriage, the Approve 74 campaign, outspend those fighting to take away our rights. Please share this link with your friends and ask them to contribute. Host a house party, or ask a local business to host an event. This is an all hands on deck situation, and we need your help now.

Volunteer to door knock:Calling people is great. Raising money is fantastic. Volunteers that go door to door to talk directly to their neighbors are my personal heroes. There is nothing better than a friendly face to face conversation with fellow Washingtonians. Get in touch with William today, to let him know you have your walking shoes ready, and eager to talk to people now.

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These are just some of the ways you can make a difference in the next couple of weeks. Like so many of us, this election could not be more personal for William. He would really like your help, and so would I.